Even though the streaming boffins kept telling us there was less telly on this year (thanks, writers’ strike), it still feels like we haven’t left the sofa since New Year’s Eve. From addictive anime and gripping drama to historical epics and spinetingling thrillers to fantastic fantasy and chaotic comic book adventures, our eyeballs have been glued to the small screen all 2024.
So, as we prepare for a nice relaxing Christmas break from the box, we’re gifting you with this handy watchlist of the past 12 months’ essential series. Oh, who are we kidding? We’re definitely going to be munching on mince pies while slurping down the new season of Squid Game. Can’t wait!
Alex Flood, Managing Editor (Entertainment and Partnerships)
Words by: Elizabeth Aubrey, Jordan Bassett, Rhian Daly, Nick Levine, David Renshaw, Gary Ryan, Ali Shutler, Emma Wilkes and Kyann-Sian Williams
Credit: HBO
20. ‘House Of The Dragon’
Season: two
The first season of House Of The Dragon put the Game Of Thrones universe back on track after that rushed and much lamented conclusion. Set nearly 200 years before Daenerys Targaryen’s (Emilia Clarke) disastrous mission to reclaim the Iron Throne, House Of The Dragon welcomed us to a time of peace and prosperity – before a misunderstanding ignited the fuse on another civil war and had us asking: why do the Targaryens love the name Aegon so much?
Season two continues the slow-burn to all-out devastation. Friends turned sworn enemies Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) realise a little too late that all the bloodshed so far has been a mistake, Daemon (Matt Smith) almost loses his mind in the seemingly-haunted Harrenhal castle – and the young king Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) gets cooked alive with Dragonfire by his vicious younger brother Aemond’s pet Vhagar. With plenty of political maneuvering alongside the occasional epic battle, House Of The Dragon’s second season was a creeping, thrilling climb to inevitable destruction. Readers of George RR Martin’s source material know a majority of these characters are living on borrowed time, but the show is determined to make the most of the ride while it can.
Best episode: ‘The Burning Mill’
Watercooler moment: Big mean dragon Vermithor turning a roomful of hopeful Targaryen descendants into ash as they line up to “claim” him. AS
Credit: Samuel Dore/Netflix
19. ‘Heartstopper’
Season: three
Ahead of its premiere, Joe Locke told NME that Heartstopper’s third season would be all “about sadness and sex”. Given that Alice Oseman’s teen drama became a pandemic hit thanks to its pillowy innocence and upbeat sweetness, this could have ruined its USP. But actually, Heartstopper manages to grow up pretty effortlessly by tackling these heavier themes with sensitivity but no hints of squeamishness. The season’s first half focuses on Charlie (Locke) as he battles depression and anorexia, while the second half follows Charlie and boyfriend Nick (Kit Connor) as they decide whether to make their relationship physical. Along the way, it explores everything from the pressures of maintaining academic excellence to the social isolation felt by asexual people. It’s all so deftly done that even the show’s first F-bomb doesn’t feel jarring.
Best episode: ‘Journey’
Watercooler moment: When artist Elle (Yasmin Finney) appears on a local radio show, she’s blindsided by crass questions about being trans. It’s quietly shocking and all too realistic. NL
Credit: HBO
18. ‘True Detective: Night Country’
Season: four
True Detective seemed DOA after a disappointing third season, but Jodie Foster and new showrunner Issa López gave it the kiss of life. Set in an Alaskan mining town that’s plunged into darkness for two months a year, Night Country weaves supernatural elements and a sensitive mental health narrative into an intricate detective story. When eight scientists at a remote research facility disappear without trace, local police chief Liz Danvers (Foster) and terse state trooper Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) are tasked with finding out what’s happened. The two women aren’t exactly thrilled to be reunited, but we don’t know why, which adds to the cleverly layered intrigue. Foster likened the series finale to a “perfect movie”, which it is – but it’s also designed to make us confront our own unconscious bias. Crime drama is rarely this gripping, let alone this smart.
Best episode: ‘Part 6’
Watercooler moment: When Danvers’ cop protégé Peter (Finn Bennett) saves her life by shooting another key character. NL
Credit: Solo Leveling Animation Partners
17. ‘Solo Leveling’
If you’ve ever played a video game, you’ll likely be familiar with the addictive grind of completing challenges to level up your character and attain shiny new equipment. Smash hit Korean anime Solo Leveling takes that idea and turns it into a successful TV show.
Based on the original ‘manhwa’ comic book and webtoon, this fast-paced, all-action sci-fi is set in a fantasy world of superpowered monster hunters. Main character Sung Jinwoo starts out as a low-grade mercenary scrabbling through dangerous assignments to cobble together enough cash to feed his little sister. After a violent event though, Jinwoo is refitted with an augmented reality system that briefs him with daily tasks. Completing these rapidly increases his powers – and ability to slash a path through hordes of enemies during thrilling dungeon missions. The beautifully rendered (and ultraviolent) fight scenes have attracted legions of bloodthirsty Gen Z fans, but it’s the surprisingly moving family story at Solo Leveling’s heart that gives it heft – and makes it worth watching.
Best episode: ‘A Knight Who Defends an Empty Throne’
Watercooler moment: Jinwoo discovers the sinister castle which, within its fiery, monster-infested depths, hides the ingredients to a potion that will revive his dying mum. Good luck, mate! AF
Credit: Saeed Adyani/Netflix
16. ‘Nobody Wants This’
What happens when a rabbi (Adam Brody) and an agnostic sex podcaster (Kristen Bell) cross paths at a mutual friend’s party? The answer, according to Nobody Wants This, is family drama and a spot of unexpected romance. In a show where the comedy matters just as much as the romance, Brody and Bell’s chemistry is off the charts. Gentle, open-hearted Noah softens Joanne’s sharp edges while she opens his mind to new ideas, both discovering the best relationship of their lives along the way. Meanwhile, Veep’s Timothy Simons makes for superb comic relief as Noah’s dorky, self-deprecating brother Sasha – whose endearing bond with Joanne’s sister Morgan (Succession’s Justine Lupe) as the “loser siblings” should prove a goldmine for future seasons. It’s the lemon cheesecake of romcoms – slightly tart to the taste but with just the right amount of sweet.
Best episode: ‘My Girl Bina’
Watercooler moment: When Joanne tells Noah of her worries she’s too much to handle, she perfectly articulates a fear millions of women have had before. EW
Credit: Apple TV
15. ‘Pachinko’
Season: two
Season one of Pachinko set the bar very high – a touching and compelling story that followed one family over generations, from Sunja (Min-ha Kim) living in Japanese-occupied Korea to her grandson Solomon (Jin Ha) trying to make a success of his life in 1980s Tokyo. Gracefully weaving together the family’s stories, highlighting the similarities in their struggles and detailing the different obstacles they faced while keeping the timelines intact was a tricky task the first time around – let alone across a whole new batch of episodes. Thankfully, this year’s second season kept up the quality – somehow pole-vaulting over its predecessor comfortably. In it, Kim carries the emotional weight of the series once again, deftly portraying both a weariness and sorrow as well as an underlying resilience to make it through. You’ll need the same determination not to binge it all at once, believe us.
Best episode: ‘Chapter Sixteen’
Watercooler moment: Noa discovering who his real father is in a tense confrontation. RD
Credit: Apple TV
14. ‘Slow Horses’
Season: four
Has there been a more consistently brilliant series to watch in recent years than Slow Horses? This year’s fourth outing was another thrilling, edge-of-your-seat watch that focused on the relationship between River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) and his ageing, ex-spook Grandpa David (Jonathan Pryce). While David now has worsening dementia, the show has long teased there may be more to David’s past than meets the eye and indeed, we learned some dubious details about his behaviour that had far-reaching consequences for River.
Gary Oldman was yet again a delight to watch as grumpy spy-boss Jackson Lamb (his insults still as brilliantly scathing as ever) while the addition of new character Moira Tregorian (Joanna Scanlan), brought some colourful comedic moments – especially with Lamb. As ever, the show still didn’t shy away from character deaths: we had two unexpected, violent losses. Can season five possibly top this? You wouldn’t bet against it.
Best episode: ‘Identity Theft’
Watercooler moment: The audacious ending of episode one: please don’t scare us like that again. EA
Credit: HBO
13. ‘The Penguin’
Matt Reeves’ The Batman introduced viewers to a murkier, more gothic version of Gotham City that was protected by a younger, less-experienced Caped Crusader (Robert Pattinson) than we’d seen before. He did his best against The Riddler (Paul Dano) but a lot of the city still ended up underwater. The Penguin is set in the immediate aftermath of that film, as titular gangster Oswald Cobb (Colin Farrell) sets out to take advantage of a stretched police force and improve his own lot in the criminal underworld.
Most comic book stories turn their protagonist into a hero, even if their actions are totally despicable. There’s no misunderstood anti-hero in The Penguin though, as the scheming, self-interested mafioso deceives his way to the top. Cristin Milloti’s troubled heiress Sofia Falcone brings a touch of flamboyance to the darkness while scrappy underdog Victor (Rhenzy Feliz) gives us someone to root for. We’re now just counting down the days until The Batman 2 where hopefully The Penguin will get his comeuppance.
Best episode: ‘A Great Or Little Thing’
Watercooler moment: The final emotional gut-punch that cements Oz Cobbs as an all-time bastard. AS
Credit: Disney
12. ‘Only Murders In The Building’
Season: four
It’s a wonder there are any residents left in The Arconia, given how many people end up murdered there. But, in season four of Only Murders In The Building, our unlikely trio of podcast pals still had plenty of neighbours to annoy, avenge and accuse of doing a spot of killing. This time, Mabel (Selena Gomez), Charles (Steve Martin) and Oliver (Martin Short) were investigating the mind-boggling death of Charles’ longtime stunt partner Sazz (Jane Lynch), all while dealing with out-of-touch Hollywood execs and a pair of weirdo directors trying to adapt their podcast into a major movie.
Season four upped the stakes on many levels, from the raft of A-list cameos (Melissa McCarthy and Zach Galifianakis among them) to the personal connection to the victim and the depths of mystery in the latest murder. Red herrings flew around with regularity, keeping both viewers and the gang on their toes for the most gripping episodes yet. At some point, The Arconia will run out of bodies, but hopefully not too soon.
Best episode: ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’
Watercooler moment: When exactly how the seemingly impossible murder and clean-up was committed is finally revealed. RD
Credit: Jasper Savage/Prime Video
11. ‘The Boys’
Season: four
Which other series would feature a mutant called Splinter making copies of himself to perform a one-man orgy? Or a kinkster Spider-Man parody called Webweaver whose safe word is ‘Zendaya’? From Tilda Swinton voicing an amorous octopus to a darkly hilarious bloodbath at a Disney On Ice-style skating extravaganza, the penultimate season of Eric Kripke’s inventive superhero-satire continued its gloriously ludicrous trespass against good taste. New additions to The Avengers-like Seven included brainiac supe Sister Sage (Susan Heyward), who helped guide the maniacal Homelander (Antony Starr, rippling with menace) ever-closer to The White House, and alt-right conspiracy theorist Firecracker (Valorie Curry). Yes, in a US election year, the political and social commentary in The Boys was subtle as Thor’s hammer, but it culminated in the show’s most exhilarating season finale yet.
Best episode: ‘Assassination Run’
Watercooler moment: Where to start?! A toss-up between a wincing scene in a sex-Batcave where Hughie Campbell (Jack Quaid) was forced to do something to a cake that you’d never witness on The Great British Bake Off – and the season swansong where a Compound V-ravaged Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) ripped head-popping politician Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit) asunder. GR
Credit: HBO
10. ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’
Season: twelve
Previously, you might have argued that Curb Your Enthusiasm creator-star Larry David didn’t have the best track-record when it came to finales, having written Seinfeld’s famously sour sayonara in 1998. However, after 24 years and 120 episodes, Curb bid farewell with a fitting victory lap that felt like a legacy band playing their greatest hits at Glastonbury’s legends slot. Each carefully-crafted instalment meticulously lined up a domino-chain of social awkwardness, often involving situations that were as hilariously bad-taste as Susie Greene (Susie Essman)’s wardrobe. The season arc saw David’s curmudgeonly alter-ego put on trial in Atlanta for the (bizarrely real) crime of electoral interference after handing a voter a bottle of water while she queued at a polling booth in the blazing sun, leading to an ingeniously meta final episode, ‘No Lessons Learned’, that winkingly referenced the plot of Seinfeld’s controversial ending. Featuring guest-turns from Bruce Springsteen and David’s regular sparring-partner Richard Lewis (who died in February), Curb remained pretty, pretty good to the bittersweet end.
Best episode: ‘No Lessons Learned’
Watercooler moment: Named after the mantra David developed when he co-created Seinfeld (“no hugging, no learning”), ‘No Lessons Learned’ saw Jerry Seinfeld drop by for a throwback-filled adieu. GR
Credit: David Lee/Prime Video
9. ‘Mr And Mrs Smith’
Who’d have thought to reimagine the 2005 action-romcom starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as a clever, comedic series? Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover did – and their take on the nostalgic blockbuster struck a gripping balance between irreverence and intrigue. Glover and Maya Erskine (PEN15) play the Pitt and Jolie roles of John and Jane Smith, freshly recruited agents for a mysterious agency who go undercover as a married couple under the watchful eye of an A.I. bot named “HiHi.” Just like a real marriage, it’s a rollercoaster – only with gunfights, missions, and espionage thrown into the mix.
For action fans, it’s a feast of massive explosions, shootouts, and tense fight scenes, but there’s also a streak of sharp humour. The Smiths’ antics and hijinks offer moments of levity, making this more than a high-octane spectacle and a clever, modern revamp of a noughties cult classic.
Best episode: ‘Double Date’
Watercooler moment: The jump cuts between moments of domestic bliss and gruelling bloodstained vignettes make for a satisfyingly mesmerising watch. KSW
Credit: Channel 4/Olly Courtney
8. ‘Big Boys’
Season: two
In its second season, Jack Rooke’s uni halls sitcom morphs into more of an ensemble piece. Confident Corinne (Izuka Hoyle) and sex-positive Yemi (Olisa Odele) both feature prominently, while fun-loving cousin Shannon (Harriet Webb) has to grow up fast. But the show’s heartwarming core remains the friendship between anxious baby gay Jack (Dylan Llewellyn) and diamond geezer Danny (Jon Pointing), his straight mate who’s more vulnerable than he lets on. Rooke’s show is never afraid of crudeness or a daft pop culture reference – Jack’s goldfish is named Alison Hammond – but even its funniest moments come with feelings. Big Boys’ depiction of Jack’s lingering grief and Danny’s mental health issues is incredibly tender for a series with an episode titled ‘Strictly Cum Dumping’. It’s best binged with a giant bag of sweet and salty popcorn to match the scripts.
Best episode: ‘The Night When’
Watercooler moment: When Jack inches too close to a glory hole, he gets poked in the eye… by a penis. NL
Credit: JoJo Whilden/Prime Video
7. ‘Fallout’
After countless disastrous video game adaptations, HBO’s take on The Last Of Us proved it could be done – but Fallout felt like a much harder challenge. The beloved series has a sprawling lore that spans four mainline games and numerous spin-offs, as players explore a post-apocalyptic America that’s home to mutated beasties, armour-clad zealots and the remnants of human civilisation. There’s no singular plotline or recurring protagonist either, making it tricky to turn into a neat, 10-episode series.
Working closely with the creators though, Amazon Prime Video have made the oddball world of Fallout an easily accessible, enthralling delight. We follow Lucy (Ella Purnell) as she leaves the safety of her underground vault to track down her kidnapped father. She quickly learns that manners aren’t high on the list of essentials for wasteland survival thanks to the swaggering Ghoul (Walton Goggins) – while rookie soldier Maximus (Aaron Moten) exists somewhere between their extremes of naive goodness and selfish evil. There are shenanigans aplenty for our ragtag trio and back in the vault, Lucy’s brother Norm uncovers a wider conspiracy about the end of the world. It’s chaotic, ridiculous but full of heart and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Best Episode: ‘The End’
Watercooler moment: The Ghoul using Lucy as human bait to lure out the disgusting Gulper, all so he could reclaim a severed head – welcome to the world of Fallout. AS
Credit: Pari Dukovic/FX
6. ‘English Teacher’
Brian Jordan Alvarez has been one of the funniest comedians on Instagram and TikTok in recent years but English Teacher proved he can bring the laughs on TV too. Like its spiritual forebear Parks & Recreation, English Teacher is a workplace comedy filled with distinct, hilarious characters (stoner teacher Rick is a standout) and powered by a big, sentimental heart. Every day is about survival for Alvarez’s character Evan as he enters the classroom, whether it is dealing with problematic Gen Z students, his workmates or his relationships with ex-boyfriend Malcolm and hot new teacher Harry. Sitcoms like this often take time to find their rhythm but the supremely confident English Teacher aces every test thrown its way.
Best episode: ‘Powderpuff’
Watercooler moment: Alvarez showed his social media savvy, creating a viral dance trend as a means to promote English Teacher online. DR
Credit: BBC/Bad Wolf Productions/HBO/Simon Ridgway
5. ‘Industry’
Season: three
Industry-heads who invested in HBO’s high finance series as a fledgling stock were rewarded hugely this year, with the series reaching new dramatic heights and continuing to soar in value. The main characters remained as conniving and compromised as ever, with Yasmin (Marisa Abela) fending off paparazzi interest in her following the mysterious death of her father on board his yacht. Harper (Myha’la), meanwhile, continued to show the kind of maverick disregard for day-trading rules that gets you noticed by those at the top of the industry. Then there is Rob, played empathetically by Harry Lawtey as he attempts to navigate the trading floor with a combination of personal debt, imposter syndrome and grief following a shock death at the start of the season. Throw in the comically named Henry Muck (Game Of Thrones’ Kit Harrington) as a green tech CEO and watersports enthusiast and you have the ingredients for another unforgettable season of TV’s most nerve-jangling show.
Best episode: ‘White Mischief’
Watercooler moment: The episode focusing on loudmouth Rishi was Industry’s version of Uncut Gems, a coke-fueled nightmare featuring risky bets and unspeakable violence. DR
Credit: Ludovic Robert/Netflix
4. ‘One Day’
There are no second chances in life – unless you’re David Nichols. The author adapted his own bestselling novel for the movie screen in 2011, only to see everyone fall about laughing at Anne Hathaway’s attempt at a Yorkshire accent. Luckily, the bigwigs at Netflix gave him another go for this TV series starring Ambika Mod as Emma and Leo Woodall as Dexter, two star-cross’d lovers who met at Edinburgh University in 1988.
For the most part, each episode checked in on them for one day – geddit? – every year, as they grappled with their seemingly doomed infatuation. The Britpop-heavy soundtrack slapped, but it was the finely rendered passage of time, with all its triumphs and missteps, that made the show so relatable. With each of the 14 instalments lasting around 30 minutes, One Day was moreish where so many streaming titles outstay their welcome. Come to think of it, we’d take a third version.
Best episode: ‘Episode 7’
Watercooler moment: The reveal in the penultimate episode. No spoilers, but you’ll definitely have the sniffles. JB
Credit: Disney
3. ‘The Bear’
Season: three
An emotionally unavailable man with mummy issues tries to turn a humble sandwich shop into a posh restaurant. Doesn’t sound like a recipe for success, does it? And yet, The Bear remained the talk of the town as it reached series three, partly thanks to the strength of its characters. Each cast member – from Jeremy Allen White as the aforementioned Carmy to Ayo Edebiri as his ambitious charge, Syd – represented a key ingredient in this delicately balanced show.
Kitchens are high-pressure places and, with the fast-talking Chicagoans tearing lumps out of each other, The Bear was sometimes as stressful as it was funny, which only proved its immersive quality. After a couple of series that grappled with death and addiction, the action did slow down a little this time round, resulting in a more conventional workplace drama. It was a delight, though, to luxuriate in such gorgeously paired character arcs. Chef’s kiss!
Best episode: ‘Napkins’
Watercooler moment: Every time Carmy wore a white t-shirt. That’s a lot of watercooler moments. JB
Credit: Kurt Iswarienko/FX
2. ‘Shōgun’
Adapted from James Clavell’s bestselling novel, historical drama Shōgun dazzled this year with a stunningly-paced epic filled with violent set pieces, forbidden romance and clashing cultures. British pilot major John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) acts as an avatar for the audience as they are thrown into feudal Japan. He begins the series as a barbaric prisoner and must instead use his brain to navigate his way up the hierarchy as a means of escape. What begins as a simple mission is soon complicated by his feelings for his translator, tragic heroine Toda Mariko (a standout performance from Anna Sawai) and a country verging on civil war. Crucially, Shōgun succeeded in its even-handed storytelling. This is not simply a complicated society viewed through Western eyes, but an outsider discovering a new way of living and finding the same mixture of fault and strength that they find in him. Critically-acclaimed and with a raft of Emmy wins under its belt, Shōgun proved such a breakout hit that a deal has already been struck with Clavell’s estate to extend what was supposed to be a miniseries for an additional two seasons.
Best episode: ‘Crimson Sky’
Watercooler moment: The battle of the caravans in ‘Tomorrow Is Tomorrow’ marked the moment Shōgun began to live up to its potential as a Game Of Thrones successor. DR
Credit: Ed Miller/Netflix
1. ‘Baby Reindeer’
Such was the legal and ethical shitstorm that blew up around Baby Reindeer, a lot of people totally forgot why they were interested in the first place: creator Richard Gadd’s TV breakout was really fucking good. From the whipsmart script and note-perfect lead performances (Gadd and Jessica Gunning both deservedly won Emmys) to its astounding ability to make you cackle one minute before crying into your cuppa the next, this was prestige TV in an era when prestige TV is supposed to have had its plug pulled. Should Netflix have made it harder for social media sleuths to track down the real Martha? Yes. Was it wise to top every episode with a disclaimer saying this is a true story? Probably not. But what about Gadd’s right to take his own horrific personal experiences and do what he wants with them? Come to think of it, maybe the moral debate was what made this show great…
Best episode: ‘Episode 6’
Watercooler moment: The final mic drop of Martha’s nine-month prison sentence wasn’t just a watercooler moment, it formed the basis of alleged ‘real-life Martha’ Fiona Harvey’s decision to try and sue Netflix for defamation. AF
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